led, hit 2nd and 9th, mistake 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened on extended flat
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, blundered badly 5th, hit 9th, headway 11th, went 2nd before 13th, led after 2 out, headed last, hung left on extended flat, stayed on same pace
prominent, not fluent 2nd, fell 9th
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake next, lost ground on front trio 5th, hampered 9th, weakened next, soon tailed off, pulled up after
held up, pecked slightly 1st, left 3rd 9th, led last, driven out
not fluent 1st, soon prominent, hit 5th, not fluent 10th, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 1st, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, jumped slowly and last 3rd, not fluent 5th, behind 7th, tailed off 10th, pulled up after
held up, not fluent 1st or 5th, swerved to avoid faller 9th, behind next, stayed on from 2 out, never on terms
KAUTO RELKO won just once from a dozen starts over hurdles and has only shown moderate form over fences so far though this longer trip should be in his favour and he's taken to get off the mark. Laughing Game showed some signs of ability over timber and produced a reasonable effort in a handicap over fences at Ludlow where she stayed on over the 2m4f trip. Basford Bob has yet to prove his stamina and has had his jumping problems while Topaze Collonges hasn't shown much over hurdles since arriving from France but should be better suited by fences. Storming Gale is another who hasn't really taken to fences so far though this is a moderate contest and he must be on the short-list.
Basford Bob (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Led, not fluent 4th, headed 11th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 6, 40l behind Cristal Bonus (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chase (4) hvy in Jan.
Kauto Relko (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th until 11th, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 9, 22l behind Ballyallia Man (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f beg chase (4) gs.
Pendoun 11-1 (12-0) Jnd ldr 9; led 15; drew clr flat, won at Bishops Court 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Cappoquin (12-0) by 4l, 13 ran.
Slick Operator (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Tracked leader until before 3rd where jumped slowly, reminders and lost place, behind 5th, pulled up after next, in a race won by Elton Fox (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Storming Gale (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Led, headed before 8th, weakened before 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Yes Tom (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Jan, 4 ran.
Topaze Collonges (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Led until 3rd, led 6th, headed after 9th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Thehillofuisneach (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Bach Street Girl (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Oniz Tiptoes (10-10) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Laughing Game 33-1 (9-9) Took keen hold, mistakes, chased leader until after 4th, prominent, ridden 13th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, went 2nd post, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Esteem (9-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
